FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[badgerwarhawk]

That looked designed to me as well.

And, FWIW, I don't feel like it took extra fortitude for Wesley to decide to go for two in that spot.  North Central hadn't really shown that they could stop the Wolverines all afternoon long -- if they had, and I'm the Wesley decision-maker, then I give this a second thought.  But based on what they'd seen throughout the game, this would not be a tough decision.

North Central was doomed when the D end lost containment and allowed Callahan to get outside to the edge.  After that a score was inevitable.

[New Tradition]

Turns out thunderdog was right and we were all wrong.  It was NOT a designed play.  At the end of this Wesley highlight reel from the game, Callahan says in his interview that the receiver turned a slant into a corner route in a scramble drill type situation.  Incredible.  What moxy from Callahan.  Impressive kid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=6&v=sO7dqaxD47Y

[bleedpurple]

Turns out thunderdog was right and we were all wrong.  It was NOT a designed play.  At the end of this Wesley highlight reel from the game, Callahan says in his interview that the receiver turned a slant into a corner route in a scramble drill type situation.  Incredible.  What moxy from Callahan.  Impressive kid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=6&v=sO7dqaxD47Y

Not to mention Xavier Allen, the receiver. I've seen enough NFL receivers NOT helping their QB's out to appreciate when a player shows enough awareness and drive to keep playing.  He kept the three rules for a WR when a QB breaks contain. He ran hard, he ran to an open spot, and he ran to where the QB would have an easier pass, not a harder one.  Players make plays and these guys did. Hats off to them.

[MasterJedi]

That looked designed to me as well.

And, FWIW, I don't feel like it took extra fortitude for Wesley to decide to go for two in that spot.  North Central hadn't really shown that they could stop the Wolverines all afternoon long -- if they had, and I'm the Wesley decision-maker, then I give this a second thought.  But based on what they'd seen throughout the game, this would not be a tough decision.

North Central was doomed when the D end lost containment and allowed Callahan to get outside to the edge.  After that a score was inevitable.

I just cringe whenever I see a QB start to scramble out of the pocket and starts to turn it up the field and the DBs near him covering the receivers just stop covering and converge, usually leading to a big pass since the WR is always then uncovered. Happens at every level!

[wally_wabash]

That looked designed to me as well.

And, FWIW, I don't feel like it took extra fortitude for Wesley to decide to go for two in that spot.  North Central hadn't really shown that they could stop the Wolverines all afternoon long -- if they had, and I'm the Wesley decision-maker, then I give this a second thought.  But based on what they'd seen throughout the game, this would not be a tough decision.

North Central was doomed when the D end lost containment and allowed Callahan to get outside to the edge.  After that a score was inevitable.

I just cringe whenever I see a QB start to scramble out of the pocket and starts to turn it up the field and the DBs near him covering the receivers just stop covering and converge, usually leading to a big pass since the WR is always then uncovered. Happens at every level!

Were they supposed to stick to the receiver and let Callahan moonwalk in for the deuce?  The defense was checkmated there. 

[DadofBashWarrior..]

That looked designed to me as well.

And, FWIW, I don't feel like it took extra fortitude for Wesley to decide to go for two in that spot.  North Central hadn't really shown that they could stop the Wolverines all afternoon long -- if they had, and I'm the Wesley decision-maker, then I give this a second thought.  But based on what they'd seen throughout the game, this would not be a tough decision.

North Central was doomed when the D end lost containment and allowed Callahan to get outside to the edge.  After that a score was inevitable.

I just cringe whenever I see a QB start to scramble out of the pocket and starts to turn it up the field and the DBs near him covering the receivers just stop covering and converge, usually leading to a big pass since the WR is always then uncovered. Happens at every level!

Were they supposed to stick to the receiver and let Callahan moonwalk in for the deuce?  The defense was checkmated there.

Exactly Wally...it was playmakers that ...Made It Happen!!!

[Teamski]

Wesley has their NCC game highlight reel here.  You can see some of the scrambling plays that Callahan ran.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=6&v=sO7dqaxD47Y

-Ski

[wally_wabash]

And just a follow up thought- I mean, you have to go stop the ball there.  If you play the receiver, the QB runs in and it's over without Wesley have to really execute anything other than a jog.  If you run to the QB and make him throw it- and yes it's as easy a throw and catch as there can be- you've at least added some extra avenues for error.  He has to throw it accurately.  The guy has to catch it and come down with it in bounds.  Again, I realize that on that specific play, we're talking about maybe a 2 in 100 chance that they botch something up.  At least chasing the QB makes them execute something even if it is pretty elementary. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

That looked designed to me as well.

And, FWIW, I don't feel like it took extra fortitude for Wesley to decide to go for two in that spot.  North Central hadn't really shown that they could stop the Wolverines all afternoon long -- if they had, and I'm the Wesley decision-maker, then I give this a second thought.  But based on what they'd seen throughout the game, this would not be a tough decision.

North Central was doomed when the D end lost containment and allowed Callahan to get outside to the edge.  After that a score was inevitable.

I just cringe whenever I see a QB start to scramble out of the pocket and starts to turn it up the field and the DBs near him covering the receivers just stop covering and converge, usually leading to a big pass since the WR is always then uncovered. Happens at every level!

Were they supposed to stick to the receiver and let Callahan moonwalk in for the deuce?  The defense was checkmated there.

I agree, but I figured MasterJedi was just referring to the more general case of plays in the open field.  It seems pretty self-evident that you have to go stop the ball at the goal line.

[emma17]

Turns out thunderdog was right and we were all wrong.  It was NOT a designed play.  At the end of this Wesley highlight reel from the game, Callahan says in his interview that the receiver turned a slant into a corner route in a scramble drill type situation.  Incredible.  What moxy from Callahan.  Impressive kid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=6&v=sO7dqaxD47Y

Good spot on that last play New.
Looking at it closely it looks like pressure came up the middle immediately, forcing Callahan to break the pocket.

Callahan made some tough runs and had some beautiful throws throughout the game.  His touch on the fade/sideline routes was outstanding.  His receivers made plays all game. 

As for the 2- point play, if you were an OC with the talent of Callahan, wouldn't the run/pass option on a roll out be one of your most likely go-to plays?
I would think a DC would think the same thing.
Which is why it's surprising that Callahan got out of the pocket as easily as he did. 

[thunderdog]

Looks like former Wheaton Crusader Steve Ryan (class of 89, and I'm guessing here, 6'3", 240), head coach of the Morningside Mustangs gave #1 Whitewater a run for their money this past Thursday, losing 30-33.  The Mustangs entered the game #1 in NAIA, but dropped to #4 after the loss. I won't pretend to know much about NAIA (other than Taylor University is nowhere near the top in football- sorry my Trojan friends), but how do the top NAIA schools traditionally stack up against the purple powers or that next top tier of d3?

[CardinalAlum]

Looks like former Wheaton Crusader Steve Ryan (class of 89, and I'm guessing here, 6'3", 240), head coach of the Morningside Mustangs gave #1 Whitewater a run for their money this past Thursday, losing 30-33.  The Mustangs entered the game #1 in NAIA, but dropped to #4 after the loss. I won't pretend to know much about NAIA (other than Taylor University is nowhere near the top in football- sorry my Trojan friends), but how do the top NAIA schools traditionally stack up against the purple powers or that next top tier of d3?

I coached high school with Steve for three years.   6'0 is more like it.  Great guy, great coach. 

[Mugsy]

Looks like former Wheaton Crusader Steve Ryan (class of 89, and I'm guessing here, 6'3", 240), head coach of the Morningside Mustangs gave #1 Whitewater a run for their money this past Thursday, losing 30-33.  The Mustangs entered the game #1 in NAIA, but dropped to #4 after the loss. I won't pretend to know much about NAIA (other than Taylor University is nowhere near the top in football- sorry my Trojan friends), but how do the top NAIA schools traditionally stack up against the purple powers or that next top tier of d3?

I coached high school with Steve for three years.   6'0 is more like it.  Great guy, great coach.

Yeah, and 220lbs is a bit more realistic.  I'm fortunate enough to call Steve a friend.  I see him a couple times a year, either as he is passing through on recruiting trips, or when he and a number of other Wheaton football alum from the late 80's go skiing in Colorado.

[USee]

I'll be interested to see how well the Thunder play in Chicago this weekend. They had some injuries up at UWEC and it will be important to see if any of those guys are back and if not, how well they play with their backups. One of the things Wheaton seems to have is depth, this is a stretch of their schedule where that depth will be on display. That is always an important ingredient for success.

I will also be interested to see NPU and the progress they have made. Devin Childress, Dakota and TD Conway, and a host of younger players who are a year older makes NPU a tougher game.

[Gregory Sager]

My expectations are modest. This is a significantly more talented North Park team than I have seen in eons, particularly in the speed department on both sides of the ball ... but the shutout loss at the hands of UWO two weeks ago made it clear that NPU still has a very long way to go before the Vikes are able to go toe-to-toe with ranked teams. I would like to see the Vikings force Wheaton to keep in its starters at least well into the fourth quarter, and I'd especially like to see them hold the final margin down to three touchdowns or less, something that the Park has not been able to do against Wheaton since 2000. Even those modest goals might be asking too much, however. Nevertheless, if NPU somehow manages to make a game of it, you will certainly hear it in my voice tomorrow afternoon.